US6560651B2 - Digital information library and delivery system with logic for generating files targeting a playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer network based digital information library system employing authentication and encryption protocols for the secure transfer of digital information library programs to a client computer system and a mobile digital information playback device removably connectable to the client computer system. The present invention is a computer network based library and information delivery system for accessing and obtaining selected digital information files. The library and information delivery system comprises: 1) a library server having a plurality of digital information files; 2) a client computer system coupled to the library server over a network; and 3) a mobile device removably connectable to the client computer system, the client computer system including logic for requesting a download of a selected one or more of the digital information files from the library server, the client computer system further including logic for downloading the selected one or more of the digital information files to the mobile device.

Description

This application is a continuation pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) of application “A Digital Information Library and Delivery System”, Ser. No. 08/710,114 filed Sep. 12, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,624.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a digital information transmission, receiving, and playback system. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a computer network based digital information library providing interactive client computer access.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Recent technological advances in the compression of digital data and the expansion of storage capacities of computer systems together with the increased bandwidth of computer network infrastructures have created new possibilities for personalized access to and usage of large amounts of digital information. One form of this type of digital information is audio information delivered across a computer network as digitized information.

In the field of interactive digital information transmission, receiving, and playback systems, several patents are known to the present applicants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,992, issued Jul. 21, 1992 to Yurt et al. (Yurt), describes a system of distributing video and/or audio information employing digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The Yurt patent describes a transmission system including a conversion means for placing the items from a source material library into a predetermined format as formatted data. Audio data is compressed by an audio compressor by application of an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) process to the audio data. Stored items are accessed in the compressed data library through the use of a unique address code assigned to each item during storage encoding. The unique address code is used for requesting and accessing information and items throughout the Yurt transmission and receiving process. The Yurt transmission system includes means by which a user enters a customer identifier (ID) code by which the system accesses the users account, and indicates to the system that the user is a subscriber of the system. If a subscriber is in good standing, the Yurt system delivers selected titles using the described techniques.

One significant problem with the audio transmission and receiving system described in Yurt is the lack of an effective means for ensuring the security of the digital information library and of the items downloaded to a user from the digital information library. Although Yurt describes the use of a unique identification code assigned to items in the library and a customer ID code assigned to particular users, no authentication protocols or encryption techniques are described to prevent the unauthorized creation of clone libraries or the unauthorized download or copying of library items. Secondly, Yurt and related prior art does not describe an authentication or encryption means providing secure transactions between a server based digital information library supporting a client computer system having an interface to a mobile playback device. Thirdly, the prior art does not describe a mechanism for selecting a digital information passage to be previewed. Prior art systems also do not describe a system whereby only part of a program gets downloaded from a client computer system to a mobile playback device depending on how much storage space is available in the mobile playback device. Prior art systems also do not describe a mechanism for specifying multiple programs to be downloaded from a digital information library into a mobile playback device. Prior art systems also do not detail the processes required in the authoring system to generate content for the digital information library. Finally, prior art systems do not describe an accounting system whereby library content providers can perform real-time queries on usage information related to the access of library items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a computer network based digital information library system employing authentication, targeting, and encryption protocols for the secure transfer of digital information library programs to a client computer system and a mobile digital information playback device removably connectable to the client computer system. The present invention is a computer network based library and information delivery system for accessing and obtaining selected digital information files. The library and information delivery system comprises: 1) a library server having a plurality of digital information files; 2) a client computer system coupled to the library server over a network; and 3) a mobile device removably connectable to the client computer system, the client computer system including logic for requesting a download of a selected one or more of the digital information files from the library server, the client computer system further including logic for downloading the selected one or more of the digital information files to the mobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below serve to explain and teach the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical computer platform on which the present invention may be implemented.

FIG. 2 illustrates a high level block diagram of the computer network based digital information library system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a high level block diagram of the authoring system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment having a plurality of library servers.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment having a plurality of library server processes.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment having a single authoring/authorization server.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein client computer systems have a local library.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein mobile playback devices have a direct network interface in lieu of a client computer system.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein a kiosk is used to retain and distribute selected programming.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein all system components are connected through a common network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a computer network based digital information library system employing authentication, targeting, and encryption protocols for the secure transfer of digital information library programs to a client computer system and a mobile digital information playback device removably connectable to the client computer system. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that these specific details need not be used to practice the present invention. In other instances, well known structures, interfaces, and processes have not been shown in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical data processing system upon which one embodiment of the present invention is implemented. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, however that other alternative systems of various system architectures may also be used. The data processing system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a bus or other internal communication means101 for communicating information, and aprocessor102 coupled to the bus101 for processing information. The system further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other volatile storage device104 (referred to as main memory), coupled to bus101 for storing information and instructions to be executed byprocessor102.Main memory104 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions byprocessor102. The system also comprises a read only memory (ROM) and/orstatic storage device106 coupled to bus101 for storing static information and instructions forprocessor102, and amass storage device107 such as a magnetic disk drive or optical disk drive.Mass storage device107 is coupled to bus101 and is typically used with a computer readablemass storage medium108, such as a magnetic or optical disk, for storage of information and instructions. The system may further be coupled to adisplay device121, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) coupled to bus101 through bus103 for displaying information to a computer user. Analphanumeric input device122, including alphanumeric and other keys, may also be coupled to bus101 through bus103 for communicating information and command selections toprocessor102. An additional user input device iscursor control123, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor direction keys coupled to bus101 through bus103 for communicating direction information and command selections toprocessor102, and for controlling cursor movement ondisplay device121. Another device which may optionally be coupled to bus101 through bus103 is ahard copy device124 which may be used for printing instructions, data, or other information on a medium such as paper, film, or similar types of media. In the preferred embodiment, acommunication device125 is coupled to bus101 through bus103 for use in accessing other nodes of a network computer system or other computer peripherals. Thiscommunication device125 may include any of a number of commercially available networking peripheral devices such as those used for coupling to an Ethernet, token ring, Internet, or wide area network. It may also include any number of commercially available peripheral devices designed to communicate with remote computer peripherals such as scanners, terminals, specialized printers, or audio input/output devices.Communication device125 may also include an RS232 or other conventional serial port, a conventional parallel port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port or other data communication means.Communications device125 may use a wireless means of data transfer devices such as the infrared IRDA protocol, spread-spectrum, or wireless LAN. In addition,communication device125 is used in the preferred embodiment to couple themobile playback device212 to theclient computer system214 as described in more detail below. One other device used in the preferred embodiment issound circuitry130 either with attached speakers orheadphones132, or with analog audio outputs suitable for input into audio reproduction equipment such as external amplifiers and speakers, cassette adapters, etc.Sound circuitry130 is well known in the art for playing audio files. Alternatively, sound circuitry may be a radio transmitter which transmits audio data on a predefined frequency for reception and playback by a radio receiver. Other wireless methods are possible.

Note that any or all of the components of the system illustrated in FIG.1 and associated hardware may be used in various embodiments of the present invention; however, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any configuration of the system may be used for various purposes according to the particular implementation. In one embodiment of the present invention, the data processing system illustrated in FIG. 1 is an IBM® compatible personal computer (PC), an Apple MacIntosh® personal computer, or a SUN® SPARC Workstation.Processor102 may be one of the 80X86 compatible microprocessors such as the 80486 or PENTIUM® brand microprocessors manufactured by INTEL® Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif.

The software implementing the present invention can be stored inmain memory104,mass storage device107, or other storage medium accessible toprocessor102. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the methods and processes described herein can be implemented as software stored inmain memory104 or readonly memory106 and executed byprocessor102. This software may also be resident on an article of manufacture comprising a computer usablemass storage medium108 having computer readable program code embodied therein and being readable by themass storage device107 and for causing, theprocessor102 to perform digital information library transactions and protocols in accordance with the teachings herein.

Digital Information Library System

FIG. 2 illustrates the computer network architecture used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In general, the network architecture of the present invention includes alibrary site250 coupled to aclient site210 via a conventionaldistribution network infrastructure240. This conventionaldistribution network infrastructure240 can be implemented as a standard telephone connection provided between thelibrary site250 andclient site210 through an Internet provider to enable data communication on the Internet over a conventional telephone network. This use of the Internet as a distribution network is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In an alternative embodiment having cable modem capability, communication over a conventional cable network is possible in lieu of communication over the telephone network. The cable network is typically much faster (i.e. provides a much greater bandwidth) than the standard telephone network; however, cable modems are typically more expensive than standard POTS (plain old telephone system) modems. In another alternative embodiment having conventional Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) capability, thedistribution network240 is accessed using an ISDN modem. Again, the ISDN network is typically faster than the POTS network; however, access to an ISDN network is generally more expensive. Cable modems and ISDN implementations are alternative communications media to the POTS implementation.

In addition, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other forms of networking may equivalently be supported by the present invention. For example, a wireless transmission means such as infrared or radio links may also provide thedistribution network240 described in the present application. As an alternative to the Internet, a proprietary network/bulletin board such as AMERICA-ON-LINE (AOL), or COMPUSERVE may be used.

Each of the servers atlibrary site250 and theclient computer system214 atclient site210 can be implemented as a computer system such as the one described above in connection with FIG.1. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thelibrary server260,authoring system280, andauthorization server270 can be remotely located yet networked together as a distributed system using the techniques described above. In addition, the present invention allows for multiple library servers, authoring systems and authorization servers. Conversely, the servers may be implemented as separate functions of a single machine. These alternative embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 and are described in more detail below.

Themobile playback device212 is a minimally configured, low-cost, standalone mobile unit for receiving and storing digital information files or programs as downloaded bylibrary server260 andclient computer system214 and for playing back the digital information files or programs for a user of themobile playback device212. Themobile playback device212 is temporarily removably coupled to theclient computer system214 while the download takes place. Once downloaded, themobile playback device212 may be detached from theclient computer system214 and used as a standalone digital information playback device. A co-pending U.S. Patent Application titled, “Interactive Audio Transmission, Receiving and Playback System”, assigned Ser. No. 08/490,537, and assigned to the Audible Words Corporation of Montclair, N.J. describes the details ofmobile playback device212.

In its basic form, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a digital information library system providing selection of digital information programming on demand over a computer network. In an alternative embodiment, the digital information programming is selected via the computer network but delivered usingmass storage media241. This alternative embodiment is described in more detail below.

The digital information library is an indexed collection of digital information programming, drawing content from digital information sources such as books, daily news and entertainment feeds, conferences and educational sources, other computer systems, the host on the World Wide Web (WWW) of the Internet, and customized audio or visual image programming. Other sources of the digital information content include, but are not limited to, conference or seminar proceedings, lecture or speech materials, language lessons, readings, comedy, customized spoken digests and related, “need-to-know” business information, computer software, local sound studio material, text to speech conversion of machine readable files, pre-recorded material from magnetic tape, CD-ROM, digital audio tape, or analog cassette tape. This digital information content is input as raw digital information content toauthoring system280 shown in FIG.2. In an alternative embodiment, a rawdigital information digitizer307 is included for receiving raw input and converting the input to a digital form which can be manipulated as a digital information file.

In an alternative embodiment, the digital information comprises digitized image or graphics data used to produce visual images on a display screen or projection screen. These images may be included in the digital information retained and maintained by thelibrary server260.

Authoring System

Authoring system280 is used to edit, index, compress, scramble, segment, and catalog digital information content into digital information programs in digital information files, which are stored onmass storage media241 or onlibrary server260 as scrambled and compressed digital information files262. The digital information programs are initially categorized according to traditional criteria (e.g. genre, modern fiction, mystery, adventure, romance, non-fiction, classics, self-help, science fiction, westerns, etc.). Categories associated with specific authors or publishers are also provided. Both unabridged and abridged titles are provided. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to digitize digital information content from an undigitized form. Theraw information digitizer307 is provided for this purpose.Authoring system280 also partitions digital information content into segments, which can be identified, searched, and skipped over if desired. All of these functions are performed byauthoring system280.

FIG. 3 illustrates theauthoring system280 of the preferred embodiment.Authoring system280 receives digital information content from a variety of conventional sources as raw digitized data. This digital information data is fed to three components of theauthoring system280 of the preferred embodiment. Thedigital information compressor314 receives the raw digital data and compresses the digitized data. There are a variety of conventional techniques in existence for compressing digital data. These techniques can be optimized depending upon the type of digital data being processed. Thus, the present invention provides several compression methods and a means for theauthoring system operator305 to select between these methods based upon the category ofdigital information content310 being input to thedigital information compressor314. Alternatively, the selection of compression method may be performed automatically by interpretation of thedigital information content310 itself. A compressed digital information file is output bydigital information compressor314 toscrambler318.

The rawdigital information content310 is also fed totemplate header generator312. Each digital information file maintained by thelibrary server260 includes other descriptive information used to identify the file's content and to provide information used to process the digital information within the file. Each digital information file includes a template header, a descrambling map, selected preview clips, and the digital information programming itself. In the preferred embodiment, the template header comprises a number of attributes corresponding to the digital information in the file. For example, the digital information may be audio information generated from the content of a book or other published work. In this example, the audio file template header contains attributes including: 1) the title of a book, volume, or medium from which the digital information content originated, 2) the legal copyright associated with the digital information content, 3) audible title(s) of the content, 4) a table of contents of the content, and 5) playback settings for appropriately playing or rendering the digital information. The table of contents contains content navigation information including but not limited to: the number of chapters, the length of the program, and information indicative of the relevant content sections. The table of contents is generated with input fromauthoring system operator305 or automatically by analysis ofdigital information content310. Thedescrambling map322 is used to interpret the digital information after the digital information has been scrambled byscrambler318 as described below. The preview clips324 comprise short pre-generated portions of digital information content used to give a consumer a sense of the content of a particular digital information file. In the preferred embodiment, these previews are generated as conventional formatted files which can be directly played bysound generation circuitry130 or rendered by other means. A digital information file can have several preview clips associated with it. The preview clips324 are not compressed or scrambled in the preferred embodiment. Thetemplate header312 remains with the digital information file as it is transferred to thenetwork240 ormass storage media241. The other descriptive information related to a digital information file is typically stored with digital information file, but is not required to be so stored.

Referring again to FIG. 3,template header generator312 generates the template header given information from a particular portion ofdigital information content310. Input fromAuthoring System Operator305 andDigital Information Compressor314 may be solicited during the header generation process. The template header is provided tolibrary server260. Other portions of the digital information file header are provided byscrambler318 andpreview generator323. These portions of the digital information file header are assembled into the header for a particular digital information file bylibrary server260. The remainder of the digital information file is filled with compressed, scrambled, and segmented digital information content.

Afterdigital information compressor314 has compressed the raw digital information using a selected compression method suitable for the category of digital information, thescrambler318 scrambles the digital information. The digital information is scrambled to prevent an unauthorized consumer from using the digital information. In the preferred embodiment,scrambler318 uses a conventional encryption method to render the data unusable. A correspondingdescrambling map322 is generated to provide a means for descrambling the scrambled digital information file. A scramblingmap316 is used byscrambler318 to scramble the digital information file. Thescrambler318 can encrypt the entire digital information file or selected critical subsets of the digital information file. The level of scrambling can be selected depending upon the capabilities of theauthoring system280, themobile playback device212 and/or the anticipatedsoftware player226 onclient computer system214. In an alternative embodiment, a proprietary digital information format is used in lieu ofscrambler318.

The scrambled digital information content is output byscrambler318 tosegmentation logic326.Segmentation logic326 partitions the digital information content into blocks for efficient storage in and transfer to amobile playback device212 orsoftware player226 and for efficient navigation during playback. Transport integrity data is generated and appended to the segmented digital information. In an alternate embodiment, portions of the segmentation process may take place before or afterdigital information compressor314 andscrambler318. Segmentation information may also be used in the header generation process bytemplate header generator312. The compressed, scrambled, and segmented digital information blocks are provided to thelibrary server260 byauthoring system280.Library server260 assembles the segmented digital information blocks, thedescrambling map322, the preview clip(s)324, and thetemplate header312 for a particular item of digital information content into a digital information program file or files, which are stored in a digital information programfile storage area262. Other raw digital information content is converted into digital information files using theauthoring system280 in a similar manner.

Library Server

Referring again to FIG. 2, thelibrary server260 is responsible for maintaining the digital information program files262 created by theauthoring system280. In addition, thelibrary server260 receives requests for access to the digital information program files262 fromclient computer systems214 overnetwork240 and manages purchase and delivery of the selected digital information files and/or delivery of selected preview clips324. Thelibrary server260 includeslibrary management software261 for performing these library server functions and alibrary key263 used for the authentication protocol described below.Library management software261 includes processing logic for receiving and responding toclient computer system214 requests for access and/or purchase of a digitalinformation program file262. Upon receiving such a client request,library server260 usesauthorization server270 to authenticate the request withclient information272 generated and maintained bylibrary server260 orauthorization server270. Theclient information272 includes client identifiers which are used to target content for playback on individualmobile playback devices212 orsoftware players226.Client information272 may also contain client personal information, user content preferences, client billing history, player usage history, and player group lists. In an alternative embodiment, portions ofclient information272 may instead be stored inserver260. Using the authorization protocol described in more detail below, thelibrary server260 determines if the client request can be serviced. If approved, thelibrary server260 accesses the digital information program file(s) or preview clip(s) requested by theclient computer system214, delivers the selected preview clip(s) or builds encrypted, targeted, and digitally signed digital information files using the authentication protocol described in more detail below, and transfers the encrypted and compressed digital information file(s) to the requestingclient computer system214 vianetwork240. Distributablemass storage media241 may also be used as a delivery medium for the transfer of information toclient system214. Theclient computer system214 may then independently download the selected digital information files (or a subset thereof) into themobile playback device212 for subsequent playback. Thelibrary server260 also collects usage statistics on the access history of the digital information files262 and stores this usage data into usagestatistic storage area264. Thelibrary server260 also stores operating code segments (firmware) for theclient browser219,software player226, and formobile playback device212. This operating code can be downloaded to theclient computer system214 in the same manner as digital information files are transferred. Player configuration data forplayback device212 andsoftware player226 is stored on thelibrary server260 and can be customized or updated in the same manner as digital information files and firmware are transferred. Configuration data includes, but is not limited to, audio prompts, user interface options, group ID information, and information playback parameters. Player configuration data is transferred toclient computer system214,software player226, ormobile playback device212 as required according toclient information272.

Thelibrary server260 interfaces with a client application program orclient browser219 executing onclient computer system214. Theclient browser219 is used to make requests oflibrary server260 for various types of service including, but not limited to, searching the digital information files262 for a desired program, previewing a selected preview clip associated with adigital information file262, purchasing a selected program, requesting operating code segments or player configuration data, and downloading the purchased program or other material to the requestingclient computer system214.

Thelibrary server260 interface with theauthorization server270 andclient computer system214 uses the unique authentication protocol and encryption protocol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The preferred embodiment of these protocols is described in the sections below.

Client Computer System

Referring again to FIG. 2, theclient computer system214 represents a consumer or end user computer system, typically a personal computer, such as the sample system illustrated in FIG. 1, with which a consumer may browse, preview, select, purchase, and take delivery of digital information content from digitalinformation library server260 acrossdistribution network240.Client computer system214 comprisesclient browser software219, amobile device interface221, storage for encrypted and compressed digital information files220 downloaded from thenetwork240,software player226, andsegment download data222 derived from digital information files220 for defining the storage segments inmobile playback device212 and for assisting in the downloading of digital information files220 fromclient computer system214 tomobile playback device212.Client computer system214 also includes a serverpublic key215 used for authenticating digital information and software files received fromserver260.Client browser software219 provides the control logic with which the client or consumer accesses and purchases titles from thedigital information library262 oflibrary server260.Client browser software219 also provides control logic which requests and downloads configuration information or operating code fromserver260. Theclient browser software219 can be configured to perform these operations without direct human intervention. Themobile device interface221 is a software interface used to control the transfer of control information, operating code, and digital information files fromclient computer system214 tomobile playback device212. Encrypted and compressed digital information files220 are received byclient computer system214 fromlibrary server260 overnetwork240. In an alternate embodiment, distributablemass storage media241 is used instead ofnetwork240 to transfer information toclient computer system214. Thesoftware player226 is a software module used to emulate the operation ofmobile playback device212 and for playing digital information files through thesound circuitry130 andaudio output device132 ofclient computer system214. Operating code and configuration information for thesoftware player226 can be downloaded or updated from theserver260 in the same manner as themobile playback device212 can be downloaded or updated. Thesoftware player226 functionality is the equivalent of the functionality and operation of themobile playback device212. Thus, the use of the term “player” throughout this document generally applies to both themobile playback device212 andsoftware player226.Software players226 are assigned unique player IDs and can be assigned group IDs that function similarly to IDs assigned tomobile playback devices212.

Mobile Playback Device

Themobile playback device212 converts a digital information file into sound or displayable imagery which is played through audio output means or displayed on a display device. In the preferred embodiment, themobile playback device212 is a minimal capability, low-cost device primarily dedicated to playing audio files or displaying visual images or text on a display device. Themobile playback device212 is minimally configured to retain its light-weight, low cost, and readily mobile features. The preferred embodiment does not therefore include the use of a portable personal computer or laptop computer as themobile playback device212; because, such general purpose computing devices typically do not meet the light-weight and low cost constraints of the preferredmobile playback device212. Such general purpose computing devices typically have unnecessary functionality, more complicated interfaces, and may suffer cost and performance penalties in comparison to the special purposemobile playback device212. In the preferred embodiment, themobile playback device212 includes a processor, memory, and an interface toclient computer system214 over which compressed digital information files216 are received. As described in more detail below,mobile playback device212 also includes aplayer ID223,group IDs225, and serverpublic key215 used for authenticating digital information and software files received fromserver260 viaclient computer system214. The user controls themobile playback device212 using buttons and knobs provided on the device. These controls are used to navigate through digital information files216, adjust configuration data and playback parameters, or perform other functions as directed by firmware stored inplayback device212. When coupled to the player,client computer system214 or other electronic devices can solicit user input from these controls. In an alternative embodiment, a set of additional user controls is provided on a remote control unit that is coupled to the player via a wired or wireless connection. Digital information output may be provided via a headphone jack, on board speaker, or wireless transmitter to a separate wireless receiver with speakers or headphones. Audio level can be adjusted with a volume knob. A wireless transmitter may contain an adjustment knob to adjust the transmission frequency or other transmission parameters. Visual information output is provided via LCD display, LED display, or outputs to a standard visual display device. Themobile playback device212 contains a limited quantity of non-volatile memory, RAM, and ROM. Digital information content, configuration data, and operating code are stored in the memory space of themobile playback device212. Configuration data includes but is not limited to: public and private IDs, content playback parameters, and user interface parameters. The use of non-volatile memory allows portions of the digital information content, configuration data, and firmware to be updated via download. Both digital information content and firmware (operating software) is stored in this memory device. Portions of the firmware and configuration information are stored permanently in a read only memory (ROM). An internal memory allocation method is used to track the content ofmobile playback device212 memory. This allocation method, in conjunction withsegment navigation data218, also provides the means for locating desired digital information, program, configuration data, or header data resident in themobile playback device212 memory. Themobile playback device212 includes an interface to theclient computer system214 through which themobile playback device212 receives compressed digital information files216, software updates, and configuration changes fromclient computer system214.

Downloading Digital Information Content, Software Updates, or Configuration Information From the Library Server to the Client Computer System

Theclient browser software219 ofclient computer system214 operates in cooperation withlibrary management software261 oflibrary server260 and the firmware resident on themobile playback device212 to provide a means by which a consumer may browse, preview, select, purchase, and take delivery of selected digital information content from digitalinformation library server260 acrossdistribution network240. The digital information content is typically downloaded to theclient computer system214 at the time of purchase, but it is possible to download digital information content either, 1) sometime after the purchase, or 2) multiple times after an initial purchase. Theclient browser219 can be configured to download content toclient computer system214 without user intervention. In addition, portions of theclient computer system214 software itself ormobile playback device212 resident software/firmware may be downloaded or updated fromlibrary server260. Themobile playback device212 resident software/firmware is downloaded throughclient computer system214. Iflibrary server260 has an updated or more recent copy ofclient computer system214 software ormobile playback device212 software/firmware, the library server copy is downloaded to replace the outdated version of the correspondingclient computer system214 software or mobileplayback device software212. The software is encrypted, scrambled, and digitally signed in a manner similar to the scrambling and delivery of the digital information files. Changes to the ID list, audio prompts, and other configuration data forplayback device212 can be downloaded in a manner similar to the downloading of software updates fromlibrary server260.

The preferred embodiment utilizes three authentication processes to protect the transfer of information fromserver260 toclient system214 andplayback device212. First, a point-to-point authentication protocol is performed whereby thelibrary server260 must verify that the requestingclient computer system214 is an authorized client and theclient computer system214 must verify that thelibrary server260 is an authorized provider. Secondly, a targeting protocol is performed whereby thelibrary server260 utilizes a set of identifiers (i.e. player IDs) formobile playback devices212 authorized to receive the selected download data fromlibrary server260. The mobile playback device identifiers are provided byclient computer system214 or are referenced from user profiles stored onlibrary server260. In the targeting process,library server260 formats and downloads data that can only be read bymobile devices212 with these identifiers. Thirdly, a library server digital signature is appended to the downloaded data for use by themobile playback device212 to verify that the downloaded data was originated by an authorized library server. These three authentication processes of the present invention are described in detail in the following sections.

Point-to-Point Authentication Protocol

Thelibrary server260,client computer system214, andmobile playback devices212 each have a unique verification sequence which is used to verify the authenticity of another system. In communications betweenlibrary server260 andclient system214, both systems alternately act to (1) request verification of the other system and (2) provide an authenticating response to a verification request. Communication betweenmobile devices212 andclient computer system214 use a similar authentication protocol, as well as real-time communication betweenmobile devices212 andlibrary server260 viaclient system214. This verification sequence comprises a pre-defined set of bit streams or data structures which are sent by the requesting system (i.e. the system requesting verification) to the receiving system being authenticated (i.e. the respondent) in a point-to-point transmission. The receiving system must respond to the verification sequence in a pre-defined manner by sending particular response bit streams or data structures to the requesting system. If the appropriate response data from the respondent is received by the requesting system, the system being verified is considered an authorized system. Conversely, the system being verified is considered unauthorized if the appropriate response data is not received by the requesting system prior to a pre-defined time-out period. Both systems begin communication by acting as requesters and respondents in separate verification cycles. Upon completion of these point-to-point authentication cycles, further client/server processing only continues if both systems deem each other to be authorized systems.

In an alternate embodiment, point-to-point authentication is used in a subset of the communications amonglibrary server260,client computer system214, andmobile playback devices212. In another embodiment, point-to-point authentication is not used and system security rests on the use of targeting and/or digital signature authentication.

Targeting Protocol

The targeting protocol of the present invention is a means and method for limiting the playback of digital information content, the adjustment of player configuration data, and the download of player operating code to a specifiedplayer212/226 or a specified set ofmobile playback devices212. Eachplayer212/226 contains aunique player ID223. Theplayer ID223 comprises a public player ID and a private player ID. The public player ID is a unique identifier and serves as a serial number for player identification. The private player ID is used to target data for individualmobile playback devices212. Private player IDs are never sent through any communications link or network path, except during installation. In the preferred embodiment, private player IDs should be sufficiently diverse, but need not be unique.

Mobile playback devices212 may be logically grouped together using a Group ID. Digital information content, software, or configuration data changes may be targeted to a group ofmobile playback devices212 defined by a group ID. Eachplayer212/226 includes memory space for storage of one ormore group IDs225 of which theparticular player212/226 is a member. Each group ID includes a public portion and a private portion, each of which is equivalent to the public and private player IDs, respectively. Each group is identified by a uniquely valued public ID that is not shared with other player or group IDs. Digital information content, software, or configuration data can be targeted to a particular group ID in the same way as it would be targeted for a specific player ID.Mobile playback devices212 in the same group share the same Group ID. A particular Group ID is pre-defined as the global group to which allmobile playback devices212 are a member.Mobile playback devices212 may be members of more than one group. Aparticular player212/226 is added to a new group by appending the new group ID to the set ofgroup IDs225 maintained in theparticular player212/226. The new group ID is appended after theserver260 provides a public group ID and a group key to theplayer212/226 viaclient computer system214. Theplayer212/226 generates a private group ID from the combination of the group key and the mobile playback device's212 private player ID. As with the private player ID, the private group ID is never sent through any communications link or network path, except during installation. In an alternative embodiment, players receive the group private ID directly or by combining the group key with the players public ID or other known numeric value. In another alternative embodiment, the private group ID is not used in the targeting process and is not transferred to the player. The group assignment process may be restricted to using real-time communications betweenserver260 and the player viaclient system214, or it may take place sometime after group assignments have been downloaded toclient system214. Having described the player IDs and group IDs defined in the present invention, the use of these IDs in the targeting protocol is described next.

Library server260 includes a player ID table266 as shown in FIG.2. Player ID table266 includes a storage area for private IDs and public IDs. The private IDs are pre-loaded into player table266 when a new mobile playback device is installed into the system or when a new group is established. In another embodiment, ID table266 is a mathematical function which converts group or player public IDs. Public player and group IDs are sent by aclient computer system214 to theserver260 when theclient computer system214 desires to target aparticular player212/226 or set ofmobile playback devices212 to a particular specified digital information, software content, or configuration data selection. Digital information selection is made from thefiles262 stored onlibrary server260. Software or configuration data selection is made from files stored onserver260 or from data generated upon request byserver260. Software content and configuration data is prepared and scrambled in a manner similar to the authoring process for digital information content. Once an association is made byclient computer system214 between a set of targeted public IDs and the associated data to be transferred fromserver260,library server260 creates a targeted header for the selected files. Thelibrary management software261 consults the public ID to private ID table266 to locate the corresponding targeted private ID(s). The targeted header comprises a combination of thedescrambling map322 from the selected files with the private player IDs corresponding to the targetedmobile playback devices212. Thedescrambling map322 is thereby encrypted using the secret IDs of the targeted mobile playback device(s)212. This targeted header is linked with the corresponding digital information or software content of the selected file in a network transport ready data block. A digital signature is applied to the data block as described below in connection with the data signature protocol. Transport integrity data (such as the use of checksums or cyclic redundancy check) is applied to the data block and the data block is sent to theclient computer system214 vianetwork240. Because the data block can only be unscrambled using the correspondingdescrambling block322 in its header and because thedescrambling block322 was combined (i.e. encrypted) with a private ID known only by the targeted mobile playback device(s)212, only the targeted mobile playback device(s)212 will be able to unscramble and read the data block. The selected digital information, software content, and configuration data is thereby targeted to a particular set ofmobile playback devices212.

For small groups ofmobile playback devices212, each targeted header of a digital information file may contain a plurality of descrambling maps, each associated with adifferent player212/226. In this manner, multiplemobile playback devices212 can read asingle file220 stored on theclient computer system214.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will note that alternative methods of targeting exist. In an alternative embodiment,library server260 uses the targeted recipient'sprivate player212/226 identifier or the targeted group's private group identifier to generate scramblingmap316.Descrambling map322 is not stored with the file as it is already known by the recipient player or group. This method targets content to asingle player212/226 or group and achieves the identical result of preventing unauthorized playback of content.

In another alternative embodiment,library server260 does not scramble the digital information content or uses a known key to scramble the digital information content. In this embodiment, descramblingmap322 is unnecessary and is not stored with the file. Either the public orprivate player212/226 identifier can be stored in the header for targeting identification purposes. Upon receipt of data fromlibrary server260, theplayer212/226 checks if itsplayer212/226 identifier or group identifier is included in the header. This method assumes unmodifiedmobile playback devices212 and achieves the identical result of preventing unauthorized playback of content.

In another alternative embodiment, the player IDs for the targetedmobile playback devices212 are sent to thelibrary server260 by theclient computer system214 when the user registers with thelibrary server260 to obtain the user's client ID. In this alternative embodiment, these player IDs are stored on thelibrary server260 in a user profile. In this embodiment, thelibrary server260 manages the player IDs for the targetedmobile playback devices212.

Digital Signature Protocol

The third authentication protocol used in the present invention is the digital signature protocol. For selected data blocks generated bylibrary server260 and downloaded to aclient computer system214,library server260 uses itsprivate library key263 to apply a digital signature to the data block. The digital signature comprises a known bit string or data pattern which is combined with the data in data blocks that are downloaded fromlibrary server260 toclient computer system214. Thelibrary server260 may perform this operation on all the data blocks or a selected subset of the data blocks. After a data block is downloaded to aplayer212/226 through aclient computer system214, theplayer212/226 can retrieve the digital signature applied by thelibrary server260 using a public server key known to theplayer212/226. Theplayer212/226 can thereby verify that the data block originated with an authorizedlibrary server260. The public server key is also known toclient computer system214, which can perform the identical operation to verify that the data block originated with an authorizedlibrary server260. In this embodiment,library server260 performs signatures on the content. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the signatures may also be performed on the digital information byauthoring system280. The signatures may also be performed in a multiple step process shared byauthoring system280 andlibrary server260.

In an alternate embodiment, digital signatures are applied to downloaded material by a trustedclient computer system214. In another alternate embodiment, digital signatures are not applied to downloaded material and system security rests on the use of targeting and/or point-to-point authentication.

Downloading Digital Information Content, Software Updates, or Configuration Information From the Client Computer System to the Mobile Playback Device

In a first step, theclient computer system214 and the mobile device use the point-to-point authentication protocol described above to verify that an authorizedmobile playback device212 is communicating with an authorizedclient computer system214. If this is the case, themobile playback device212 transmits its memory map to theclient computer system214 via themobile device interface221. A table of contents defining the available digital information files220 and player configuration profiles resident inclient computer system214 is displayed along with themobile playback device212 memory map for a user ofclient computer system214. The user selects which files220 ofclient computer system214 should replace portions or segments of specifiedmobile playback device212 memory as defined by themobile playback device212 memory map. Alternately,client browser219 can be configured to automatically perform this selection process. In either case, the user is prevented from selecting digital information content larger than the available memory ofplayback device212. In addition, control software and/or configuration data forplayback device212 may be automatically updated byclient computer214. The specified digital information files220, associated headers, operating code, or configuration data are thereafter downloaded intomobile playback device212 memory. Themobile playback device212 uses checksums to verify the integrity of the download. Themobile playback device212 uses the serverpublic key215, the header, and the digital signature to authenticate the download as described above. The header descrambling map is used by targetedmobile playback devices212 to unscramble the downloaded data. In other embodiments,mobile playback device212 may unscramble the downloaded data and/or decompress the downloaded data before authenticating the signature. Each segment of the digital information content may be independently authenticated and validated using any of the techniques described above. Digital information prompts on themobile playback device212 guide the user to the desired portion of the downloaded digital information content as specified by the table of contents residing in the header of the downloaded data. The user may preview selected portions of the digital information content by selecting a preview option. The preview option plays a predetermined portion of a selected digital information program. Upon selection of a particular digital information program, the selected digital information program is played for the user after themobile playback device212 converts the digital information content into sound or displayable imagery which is played through an audio output means or displayed on a display device.

Thesoftware player226 ofclient computer system214 may also receive digital information content in approximately the same form as the digital information content downloaded to themobile playback device212; however, the digital information content for thesoftware player226 does not need to be downloaded to thesoftware player226. Thesoftware player226 has direct access to the digital information content; because, it shares memory and/or disk storage space with theclient computer system214. Therefore, there are no downloading or memory map concerns. In the same manner as themobile playback device212, thesoftware player226 performs digital signature verification, verification of checksums, and receiving targeted information. In an alternative embodiment,software player226 may use a communication protocol similar to that ofmobile playback device212 when receiving digital information content, configuration information, and dynamically downloaded software.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4,authoring system280 can support a plurality oflibrary servers260. Each library server can be configured to support a specific type of digital information content. In the same manner described above, theclient computer systems214access network240 and obtain digital information content from any of thelibrary servers260 after performing the authentication process described above.Authorization server270 is provided for this purpose. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 provides a more distributed architecture thereby dispersing the load across several server platforms. A site with manyclient computer systems214 may have itsown library server260 to reduce demand onnetwork240. This architecture scales well as the number ofclient computer systems214 grows and the content provided by thelibrary server260 grows.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention except thelibrary server461 has been implemented as a plurality of separate processes ortasks460 running concurrently on a singlelibrary server platform461. Eachlibrary server process460 services requests for access to its corresponding portion of the digital information content. This content is created usingauthoring system280 in the manner described above. Theauthorization server270 is used to validate the links between theclient computer systems214 and the library server processes460. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 is advantageous in that the convenience of a single server is maintained while the scalability of multiple libraries is also supported.

This concept can also be used for the authoring andauthorization servers280 and270, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, theauthoring system280 and theauthorization server270 is implemented on asingle platform685 asauthoring process680 andauthorization process670. These processes perform the same functions as described above, except the implementation provides the convenience of a single server and the scalability of multiple processes for the authoring and authorization tasks.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment wherein theclient computer systems214 include alocal library710. Thelocal library710 provides a local storage area and library access control functionality which provides access to a subset of the archived digital information fromlibrary server260. In the manner described above, the user of aclient computer system214 identifies the titles or items of digital information inlibrary server260 that the user wishes to access. In the preferred embodiment, these content selections are transferred to a client storage area220 (as shown in FIG. 2) for subsequent downloading tomobile playback device212. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 expands upon theclient storage area220 and creates alocal library710. Thelocal library710 is used for storage of selected content; but also for searching, sorting, categorizing, and abstracting the locally stored content. Thelocal library710 allows aclient computer system214 to maintain a small subset of the full library which may be used to create custom collections of content in a variety of user selected configurations.Client systems214 may be permitted to access the contents oflocal libraries710 onother client systems214. In a related alternate embodiment, library server processes460 may also reside on selectedclient systems214. This embodiment allowsclient systems214 to browse and purchase content that is scrambled, targeted, and delivered fromlibrary server process460 executing on a locally positionedclient system214. By maintaining the library locally, a portion of the network access and transfer overhead is eliminated.

FIG. 8 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein theclient computer system214 is eliminated and themobile playback device212 is connected directly to thenetwork240 throughnetwork interface810. In the preferred embodiment, themobile playback device212 is a minimal capability device primarily dedicated to playing audio files or displaying visual images or text on a display device. Themobile playback device212 is minimally configured to retain its light-weight, low cost, and readily mobile features. The preferred embodiment does not therefore include the use of a portable personal computer or laptop computer; because, such devices typically do not meet the light-weight and low cost constraints of the preferredmobile playback device212. However, the minimalmobile playback device212 may be augmented to addnetwork interface810 which comprises a conventional hardware connector, hardware buffers and controllers, and firmware support for a particular conventional network protocol. For example, themobile playback device212 may be augmented with an integrated modem that includes a telephone jack with which the playback device may be connected to a telephone network. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that networkinterface810 may be implemented in a low cost and light-weight device such asmobile playback device212. Because theclient system browser219 would not be available in the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a simplified user interface may be provided in firmware or other non-volatile memory ofmobile playback device212 with which the user may select items of digital information for download and playback fromlibrary server260. As described above, the authentication process to validate the link between themobile playback device212 and thelibrary server260 must also be performed prior to user access to thelibrary server260 content. Alternatively, aclient system814 coupled tonetwork240 may be provided to supportclient browser219 and thereby enable selection of items of digital information for download and playback fromlibrary server260 directly to any of themobile playback devices212.Client systems814 may support local storage of digital information, software, and configuration data in a form similar tostorage space220 orlocal library710. In addition, a more simplified implementation ofnetwork interface810 may be designed to communicate vianetwork240 toclient system814 instead oflibrary server260.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, digital information programming selections are made using theclient computer system214 andlibrary server260 as described above; however, the selections are delivered onmass storage medium241.Mass storage medium241 represents any of a variety of conventional mass storage technologies including CD-ROM, PCMCIA cards, DVDs, floppy disks, removable hard drives, digital magnetic tape, optical cards, flash memory or other optical, magnetic, electronic, or semiconductor memory devices. Upon selection by a user of aclient computer system214, selected programming is targeted and scrambled as described above and transferred to a selectedmass storage medium241 and mailed, hand-delivered, or held for pickup by the user. Once the user takes physical possession of the selectedmass storage media241, the selected programming may be read from themass storage medium241 by theclient browser219 and thereafter transferred to themobile playback device212 as described above. FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the system that does not include the use ofclient computer214 to transfer data tomobile playback device212.Kiosk910 consists of a computer system such as the one described above in FIG.1.Kiosk910 is a publicly accessible unit that can perform browse, content purchase, and download functions in a manner equivalent to aclient computer system214. Thekiosk910 is special because it contains its own library server for fast local access and download of content.Kiosk910 contains amobile device interface221, a special version ofclient browser219, and locallibrary server process460. Kiosklibrary server process460 has local storage of scrambled and compressed digital information files262. These compressed information files262 originate fromremote authoring system280 and may be delivered via physical transport ofmass storage media241 or viadistribution network240. A customer operatesclient browser219 to browse, select, and purchase digital information files that are delivered to the customer'smobile playback device212. Authentication, targeting, and download processes are performed within the kiosk bylibrary server process460 that is connected toremote authorization server270 overnetwork240. In a related embodiment, FIG. 7 shows aclient system214 withlocal library710 that can be converted into a kiosk with functionality similar tokiosk910. In this system, a special version ofclient browser219 provides the same user functionality as the previous kiosk embodiment.

An alternate embodiment of the system uses a common communication network to connect all system components. In FIG. 10,network240 is directly coupled toclient system214 and814, network interface(s)810, library server(s)260,authorization server270, and authoring system(s)280. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize thatnetwork240 can also be segmented into a number of independent networks or communication links without changing the functionality of the system.

Thus, a method and apparatus for implementing a computer network based digital information library system employing authentication and encryption protocols for the secure transfer of digital information library programs, software, and configuration data to a client computer system and a mobile digital information playback device removably connectable to the client computer system is disclosed. Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples and subsystems, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not limited to these specific examples or subsystems but extends to other embodiments as well. The present invention includes all of these other embodiments as specified in the claims that follow.

Claims (111)

We claim:

1. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said targeted digital information files to said computer system from an external source; and

a mobile device removably connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID, said computer system further including logic for downloading a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said mobile device, said portion depending on storage space available in said mobile device.

2. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

3. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said computer system further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

4. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said computer system further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said targeted digital information files.

5. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said external source includes a network.

6. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

7. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

8. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

9. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

10. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said computer system further includes a player for audibly playing said targeted digital information files on said computer system.

11. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said mobile device further includes a player for audibly playing said digital information files rendered on said mobile device.

12. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said computer system further includes a local library for local storage of a selected portion of said selected one or more digital information files.

13. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said mobile device further includes an external interface for direct communication with said external source without the aid of said computer system.

14. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said logic for downloading further includes logic for performing authentication on each segment of said targeted digital information files downloaded to said mobile device.

15. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said digital information files includes files with primarily textual content.

16. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said mobile device further includes a player with a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files downloaded to said mobile device.

17. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said digital information files.

18. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for targeting said selected one or more digital information files encrypted using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said selected one or more encrypted digital information files to said computer system from an external source; and

a mobile device removably connectable to said computer system, said mobile device including a player for rendering said content of a portion or all of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID.

19. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

20. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said computer system further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

21. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said computer system further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said encrypted digital information files.

22. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

23. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

24. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

25. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

26. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said computer system further includes a player for audibly playing said encrypted digital information files on said computer system.

27. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said digital information files includes files with primarily textual content.

28. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said player includes a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files downloaded to said mobile device.

29. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more encrypted digital information files.

30. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said targeted digital information files to said computer system from an external source;

a mobile device removably connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID; and

a portable media storage device for use with said mobile device, said computer system further including logic for downloading a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said portable media storage device.

31. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 30 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more targeted digital information files.

32. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for targeting said selected one or more digital information files encrypted using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said selected one or more encrypted digital information files to said computer system from an external source;

a mobile device removably connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID; and

a portable media storage device for use with said mobile device, said computer system further including logic for downloading a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said portable media storage device.

33. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 32 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more encrypted digital information files.

34. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a mobile device removably connectable to an external source, said mobile device including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, logic for requesting download of a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said mobile device, and logic to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID.

35. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

36. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said targeted digital information files.

37. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said targeted digital information files.

38. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said external source includes a network.

39. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

40. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

41. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

42. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

43. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device further includes a player for audibly playing said digital information files rendered on said mobile device.

44. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device further includes a local library for local storage of a selected portion of said selected one or more digital information files.

45. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 further including logic for performing authentication on each segment of said targeted digital information files downloaded to said mobile device.

46. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 further including logic for collecting and storing usage statistics based on access history of said digital information files.

47. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said digital information files include files with primarily textual content.

48. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device further includes a player with a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files downloaded to said mobile device.

49. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device is removeably connectable to the external source via a modem.

50. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said mobile device is removeably connectable to the external source via a telephony connection.

51. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 34 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more targeted digital information files.

52. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said targeted digital information files to said computer system from an external source; and

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID, said computer system further including logic for wirelessly downloading a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said mobile device, said portion depending on storage space available in said mobile device.

53. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

54. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said computer system further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

55. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said computer system further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said targeted digital information files.

56. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said external source includes a network.

57. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

58. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

59. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

60. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

61. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said computer system further includes a player for audibly playing said targeted digital information files on said computer system.

62. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said mobile device further includes a player for audibly playing said digital information files rendered on said mobile device.

63. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said computer system further includes a local library for local storage of a selected portion of said selected one or more digital information files.

64. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said logic for downloading further includes logic for performing authentication on each segment of said targeted digital information files wirelessly downloaded to said mobile device.

65. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said digital information files includes files with primarily textual content.

66. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said mobile device further includes a player with a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files wirelessly downloaded to said mobile device.

67. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 52 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more targeted digital information files.

68. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for targeting said selected one or more digital information files encrypted using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said encrypted digital information files to said computer system from an external source; and

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to said computer system, said mobile device including a player for rendering said content of a portion or all of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID.

69. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

70. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said computer system further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

71. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said computer system further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said encrypted digital information files.

72. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said external source includes a network.

73. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said digital information files includes files with primarily textual content.

74. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said player includes a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files wirelessly downloaded to said mobile device.

75. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said computer system further includes a player for audibly playing said encrypted digital information files on said computer system.

76. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 68 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more encrypted digital information files.

77. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said targeted digital information files to said computer system from an external source;

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID; and

a portable media storage device for use with said mobile device, said computer system further including logic for wirelessly downloading a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said portable media storage device.

78. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 77 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more targeted digital information files.

79. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for targeted said selected one or more digital information files encrypted using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said encrypted digital information files to said computer system from an external source;

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to said computer system to render said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID; and

a portable media storage device for use with said mobile device, said computer system further including logic for wirelessly downloading a portion or all of said digital information files to said portable media storage device.

80. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 79 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more encrypted digital information files.

81. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to an external source, said mobile device including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID logic for requesting wireless download of a portion or all of said targeted digital information files to said mobile device, and logic for rendering said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID.

82. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

83. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

84. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said targeted digital information files.

85. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said external source includes a network.

86. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

87. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

88. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

89. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

90. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device further includes a player for audibly playing said digital information files rendered on said mobile device.

91. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device further includes a local library for local storage of a selected portion of said selected one or more digital information files.

92. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 further including logic for performing authentication on each segment of said targeted digital information files wirelessly downloaded to said mobile device.

93. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 further including logic for collecting and storing usage statistics based on access history of said digital information files.

94. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said digital information files include files with primarily textual content.

95. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device further includes a player with a text display device for visually rendering said content of said targeted digital information files wirelessly downloaded to said mobile device.

96. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device is wirelessly connectable to the external source via a wireless modem.

97. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said mobile device is wirelessly connectable to the external source via a wireless telephony connection.

98. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 81 wherein said information indicative of a player ID is delivered separately from said selected one or more targeted digital information files.

99. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a computer system including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, and logic for requesting download of said targeted digital information files to said computer system from an external source; and

a mobile device removably connectable to said computer system and including logic for rendering a portion or all of said targeted digital information files on said mobile device only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID, said portion depending on storage space available in said mobile device.

100. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said digital information files includes audio files, spoken audio files, visual image files, text files, video files, multimedia files, programming code files, configuration information files, or a combination thereof.

101. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said computer system further includes logic for previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

102. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said computer system further includes logic for descrambling and decompressing said targeted digital information files.

103. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said external source includes a network.

104. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said external source includes a distributable mass storage medium.

105. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said player ID uniquely identifies a single player from all other players.

106. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said digital information files are targeted using a player group ID.

107. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 14 wherein said logic for browsing further includes logic for making selections of one or more of said digital information files based on browsing said various characteristics of content of said digital information files and previewing portions of content of said digital information files.

108. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said computer system further includes a player for audibly playing said targeted digital information files on said computer system.

109. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said mobile device further includes a player for audibly playing said digital information files rendered on said mobile device.

110. The computer based library and information delivery system as claimed inclaim 99 wherein said computer system further includes a local library for local storage of a selected portion of said selected one or more digital information files.

111. A computer based library and information delivery system for enabling a user to access and obtain selected digital information files, said library and information delivery system comprising:

a mobile device wirelessly connectable to an external source, the wireless mobile device including an interface to a distributable mass storage medium, said mobile device including programming logic for browsing various characteristics of content of said digital information files, logic for selecting one or more of said digital information files, logic for initiating targeting of said selected one or more digital information files using information indicative of a player ID, logic for requesting download of a portion or all of said targeted digital information files from said distributable mass storage medium to said mobile device, and logic for rendering said content of said targeted digital information files only if said mobile device corresponds to said player ID.

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